And I have also wondered the similarities in which I would call earth ages. I drew up this image in the long ago. Had I to do over again I would have continued the first two churches to the end of the age. Considering remnants of the first congregation Messianic, and the second Oriental Orthodox, such as we have in Ethiopia. The Messianic congregation being a very hard group to trace.
The Original Apostles - Leadership of the first congregation.
The Apostle Paul - Leadership of the second congregation
The Apostles basically handing the second congregation over to Paul -
7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles)
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. - Galatians 2
What was the second congregation in for? Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. -
Revelation 2:10
If you study the Foxes Book of Martyrs you will find ten defined persecutions...
Ye Shall Have Tribulation Ten Days…
Time
Persecutor Description
67 AD
Nero The Smyrna Church Age begins with Nero setting fire to Rome, and then blaming the Christians
81 AD
Domitian Declaration that no Christian should be exempt from punishment, Paul’s Timothy died in 97 AD.
108 AD
Trajan and Adrian Severe persecution against Christians from 108 to 138 AD during the time of the Bishop Ignatius
162 AD
Marcos Aurelius Marcos Aurelius, commendable in study of philosophy, sharp and fierce towards Christians.
192 AD
Severus This persecution was carried out by the will and prejudice of the people and extended into Africa.
235 AD
Maximus Numberless Christians were slain without trial and burned indiscriminately in heaps
249 AD
Decius Began because of the amazing increase in Christianity, and with the heathen temples forsaken.
257 AD
Valerian The martyrs that fell during this persecution were innumerable, their tortures and deaths painful.
274 AD
Aurelian A brief persecution that ended with the emperor’s assassination.
303 AD
Diocletian The last persecution ended with Constantine’s triumph against Rome in 313 AD
Constantine was no friends with the Jews or the Romans so he created the church at Constantinople. Because of the barbarian onslaught during this church age it was necessary for it to move into castles or towers, which is purgos in the Greek. It is recorded that half the human population would die from the barbarian onslaught, the church therefore would need to dwell in fortified structures.The third church would become different than the first two.